Knee-jerk reaction? Eagles activate Jackson

The Eagles have been able to surprise us nearly every day since training camp began with some sort of surprising roster move.

Sunday was no different as they decided to bring center Jamaal Jackson off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list along with guard Todd Herremans.

Herremans was thought to be close to 100 percent in battling back from a foot injury, so his activation was not unexpected. But Jackson is coming off January surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and as recently as the start of camp was labeled by coach Andy Reid as "a stretch" to be ready for the season opener.

Even after making the move, Reid wasn't ready to admit he had changed his mind on Jackson's status.

"It's too soon, I can't tell you that," he said. "I've got to see how his leg reacted after this practice, then it's going to be the same thing the next day and we're just doing to take it day-by-day and see how he does and make sure you don't overwork it. There's a fine line there."

So why make the irreversible move with either of them now, especially after reserves Mike McGlynn (center) and Max Jean-Gilles (guard) did so well in the preseason opener Friday night?

"They were feeling good and they progressed far enough," Reid said. "The doctors gave them a clear and [head athletic trainer] Rick [Burkholder] thought they were ready to start up and, again, we're just going to take it easy and gradually work them back in."

At least that was the plan Sunday, as Jackson was held out of all scrimmage action and Herremans' scrimmage work was mostly limited to the afternoon practice, which was moved indoors due to rain.

"It was a pretty easy practice," Herremans said, "and the stuff that we've been doing outside is way more strenuous than this was in here today."

Jackson wasn't quite sure himself what to make of the move.

"I wouldn't say I'm surprised, but it is enlightening a little bit," he said. "The next step is moving a lot more than what I did today. It was good to get out there and get some coaching from [offensive line coach] Juan [Castillo] and some individual periods banging a little bit with my teammates. But ultimately the goal is to get out there and be worry free."

The Eagles also released punter Ken Parrish, the graduate of East Stroudsburg South High School and East Stroudsburg University who also was cut by the Eagles last year.

Parrish struggled with his kickoffs, something the Eagles encouraged him to add to his repertoire this season, in Friday night's preseason opener against Jacksonville and finished with just a 35.7 net average on his three punts.

But special teams coordinator Bobby April and kicker David Akers still believe Parrish is worthy of an NFL job.

"He just needs more game reps," Akers said.

Parrish declined an interview request on Sunday but said via a text message that he would speak to The Morning Call later this week about his time with the Eagles and his options for catching on with another team.

Finally, the team placed safety Antoine Harris on the injured reserve list with a lisfranc sprain and worked out free-agent safeties Jamaal Fudge and Terrell Skinner after practice. They had made no move to sign either one as of Sunday evening.

Two more injury notes: CB Macho Harris (hamstring) and DT Antonio Dixon (concussion) also returned to practice Sunday.